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Tort Reform Turns 10

By Angela Morris (Texas Lawyer, September 2, 2013)

There’s no doubt that 2003’s major medical-malpractice reforms dramatically cut both the numbers of med-mal suits in Texas and doctors’ med-mal insurance rates. But there’s disagreement about its affect on the state’s physician population.

In 2003, when the Texas Legislature debated House Bill 4, supporters and opponents predicted the impact. Supporters said HB 4 would retain and attract physicians and improve patients’ access to care. Opponents said it would prevent certain plaintiffs with legitimate claims from finding lawyers to represent them.